Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:482. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16102/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (482)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (483)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:483. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16103/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Ceisteanna (484, 562, 563)
John McGuinness
Ceist:484. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who applied for the position of sarcoma specialist at St. Vincent's University Hospital; the number of persons who made up the interview board and their qualifications; the overall cost of the interview process; the date on which the person selected will take up the position; if he will respond in detail to correspondence on this matter sent to him on 12 January 2017 by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16108/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra
John Brady
Ceist:562. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the location on which the new oncology specialist appointment at St. Vincent's University Hospital was advertised; the number of applications received; the number of persons interviewed for the post; the draft score sheet used to mark each candidate; the basis upon which the successful candidate was chosen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16682/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohn Brady
Ceist:563. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if he will allow a member of the European Society for Medical Oncology to carry out an independent review of the résumés and references of the candidates for the position of oncology specialist at St. Vincent's University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16683/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 484, 562 and 563 together.
The Deputies' questions relate to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to them.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (485)
Pearse Doherty
Ceist:485. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will be scheduled for a procedure at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16111/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Medicinal Products Prices
Ceisteanna (486)
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:486. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision in 2012 to remove gluten-free products from the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16125/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. I have asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy directly.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage
Ceisteanna (487)
Maria Bailey
Ceist:487. Deputy Maria Bailey asked the Minister for Health if the FreeStyle Libre diabetes device will be added to the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16126/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes. Therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (488)
Seán Fleming
Ceist:488. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to provide home support for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16137/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides a range of services, including home support hours to people with disabilities. In their National Service Plan for 2017, the HSE expects to deliver 2.75 million Home Support Hours to over 7,400 people, including children, with a disability. This is an increase of 150,000 hours over last year's target.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for a direct reply to the Deputy.
Question No. 489 answered with Question No. 455.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (490)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Ceist:490. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) can be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16142/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (491)
John Brassil
Ceist:491. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if he will make additional resources available to the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital to reduce waiting times for ophthalmology in view of the fact that some consultants lists are now up to 30 months for routine cataract procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16147/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim to ensure that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. In excess of 2,000 daycases will be managed through this process and outsourcing of treatment will commence shortly. The focus of this initiative will be those lists with large numbers of long waiting patients, including Ophthalmology.
In addition to this Daycase Initiative, the NTPF has been working closely with my Department and the HSE to agree an approach to the remaining 2017 allocation. The HSE is currently developing 2017 Waiting List Action Plans for Inpatient/Daycase procedures and Outpatient appointments to reduce the number of patients waiting more than 15 months by the end of October. The Inpatient/Day case Plan is being developed in conjunction with the NTPF's approach to the utilisation of its remaining €10m funding for patient treatment in 2017.
The HSE has now submitted Draft Waiting List Action Plans for Inpatient Daycases. My Department is currently reviewing and evaluating this plan and engagement is ongoing with the HSE and the NTPF towards its finalisation. The Outpatients Plan has been significantly progressed and I expect that it will be submitted shortly.
HSE Documents
Ceisteanna (492)
Jack Chambers
Ceist:492. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the procedure and policy in place within the HSE for obtaining signatures on forms from patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16148/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
Hospital Admissions
Ceisteanna (493, 494, 495)
Jack Chambers
Ceist:493. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if there is a policy for staff who oversee the completion and signatures on forms from patients in public hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16149/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraJack Chambers
Ceist:494. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the way in which hospital staff obtain signatures for forms from the patients who hold private health insurance and received treatment in public beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16150/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraJack Chambers
Ceist:495. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that hospital staff are completing and filling in forms without the consent of patients and requesting them to sign those forms; if this is allowed under the existing policy and procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16151/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 to 495, inclusive, together.
Although a proportion of activity in public hospitals involves the provision of care to private patients, the core purpose of the system is to provide services for public patients. Government policy is to ensure there is equitable access for public patients, that the proportion of private activity is appropriately controlled and that the statutory charges for provision of services to private patients are collected by public hospitals.
When a patient is admitted to hospital, he/she has the option of being treated as a public or a private patient. A patient's status in this regard is determined in the first instance according to whether or not he/she chooses to waive his/her right to be eligible for public inpatient services and in doing so chooses to be admitted as the private patient of a consultant whose contract permits private practice.
All patients who opt to be treated privately in a public hospital are subject to charges, as provided for by the Health (Amendment) Act 2013. Detailed operational procedures in this regard, including arrangements in relation to patients who wish to avail of private health insurance to meet the costs due, are managed by the HSE. I have therefore asked the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this aspect of the questions asked.